Site Updates

Thanks for the input / heads-up on the bugs that you guys have pointed out of late, while we'd hope that they never occur, such is the cost of getting the new site to where we want / need it to be. Our apologies for any consternation or inconvenience it might have caused. A quick update on a couple of issues:

Mobile Site
vBulletin has a Mobile Suite (skin) - but we encountered a bug in its code that, essentially, prevents a page from loading. We have reported it to vBulletin, and are awaiting their direction. Understanding its importance, we have been working on a modified template theme which, while not a "true" mobile theme, is far less graphic / Flash / Javascript intense, if only for use in the interim until the bug issue is resolved. This is our top priority, by far.

"Server is Busy" Messages
A SPAM setting was responsible for this, essentially, preventing the forum from being bombarded by SPAMBOTS. Unfortunately, much like an electronic shark net, it also caught several users in its web as well. We have since changed and increased this setting, and after having tested it several times ourselves, believe that it has been resolved.

Banned Registrations
As part of making this site a strictly 18+ forum, we installed a setting that requires new registrants to verify their age to meet COPAA law. While the normal "registrant" was working as expected (you signed up, got an email, verified your link, and awaited moderation) - the newly developed COPAA registration was checked as a "banned" group - hence, new users seeing the immediate "Your Ass is Banned" message (i.e. banning themselves). This setting has been changed, the registration process has since been triple-checked, and is now working as expected. Please continue to spread the work and invite others to the site - and feel free to blame me for any previous (failed) attempts to register. Better yet, have them shoot me an email at rexvol@volnation.com

Thread Read / New Setting
Some of you encountered a problem where the new/read thread icons were not accurately displayed (i.e. you read it, but it showed as being "New") or vice versa. We had set these up to be determined by browsing history - but unfortunately, it was using visiting a particular forum (and not a single thread) as its standard of having been "viewed" or "not viewed" and was causing some confusion. We changed the setting, and it now functions by threads actually viewed, and should resolve the problem. However, if it continues to occur, please let us know.

Page Load Times
This one is curious - some are noticing a delay in the forum loading, while others are not. However, we are going to be proactive in addressing any page load / speed issues by migrating the board to a newly hosted / dedicated environment tonight (the board may be down for a few hours), which should correct any noticeable delays, real or imagined.

New Logo
We continue to perfect a new logo, and hope to soon have it out for your collective review and feedback, however, such is somewhat on the back-burner (rightfully so) insofar as either the accessibility or functionality of the new site requires our attention. But just an FYI that we haven't forgotten this.

Blogging / Articles
The availability of any user to write / post and publish their own blog or article is one bad-ass component of this site - and one which we hope that you'll take advantage of, whenever you'd like to do so. To facilitate this, we are working on a very simplistic (read: step-by-step essentially) instruction guide to help you get your thoughts out to the masses, both on this site, and well beyond. You should see this in the next day or so. I've seen the following common questions being posed around the site related to this, and wanted to provide some quick answers:

Question 1: "What should / can / may I write about?"ANSWER: Whatever you'd like to write about. Anything, really. The Civil War. Tyler Bray. Tits. Gays in military. Stuff you hate. Stuff you love. Essentially, the only requirement for content is: have something to say or a point to make.

Question 2: "How often can / must I write something?"ANSWER: As often as you'd like. One-time. Every hour. Infrequently. Whatever you'd like, as often as you'd like - your submissions are welcomed.

Question 3: "Who's permission do I need before doing so?"ANSWER: No ones. Your presence here is all the permission you need to write an article or blog. If it sucks, it will likely be ridiculed. If not, it will generate comments and viewership both here, and elsewhere.

Question 4: "Does it have to be perfect / professional writing style?"ANSWER: No - it can be written conversationally, but of course, we'd prefer that you observed the basic rules of grammar / spelling / punctuation, etc.

Quick Fixes
Some housekeeping items that we intend to look into / correct in the next 24-48 hours:

1. Making hyperlinked text appear as a different color, and not just on mouse-over
2. Looking at the (vBulletin) bugs for "New Reply" and for "Insert Image"
3. Adding more functionalities and mods, all directed toward driving membership

We have sort of plateaued on new members (auto-banning and busy servers will do that nicely, I think) - but hope to have removed all of the roadblocks to more invitations and registrants. Again, the first 150 are free, so if you know of someone who would be a good addition here, please feel free to invite them (and yes, there is a place even for the lightning rods - I'm entirely unconcerned about their running rampant here, over this group of people).

Thanks for being here, and again, sorry for any inconvenience or annoyances we might have caused, however unintentionally.

In the meantime, if you see any other areas where your experience on the site could be improved, please pass them along.

Why is it that when I try to log in I have to do it three or four times? After the first couple of times it says welcome to the site with my username but sends me right back to the log in page. Is this some kind of hint?

Why is it that when I try to log in I have to do it three or four times? After the first couple of times it says welcome to the site with my username but sends me right back to the log in page. Is this some kind of hint?